In the 12-year period of 2005 through 2016, canines killed 392 Americans. Pit bulls contributed to 65% (254) of these deaths. Combined, pit bulls and rottweilers contributed to 76% of the total recorded deaths. | More »

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

UPDATE 10/22/08: As a commenter points out, the new program launched by the ASPCA "sounds breed specific and racist." This is a two-part issue. Firstly, the group opposes breed-specific law, including mandatory pit bull sterilization. Yet the new program targets specific breeds -- pit bulls and rottweilers -- because a distinct problem lies with them. Secondly, the program targets blacks and Latinos, which addresses the "racist" element.

10/22/08: Free Sterilization OpportunityNew York, NY - Just days away from Pit Bull Awareness Day, a term coined by pit bull advocates, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) launched an aggressive program to reduce the number of pit bulls and other large-breed dogs in the city. Aimee Hartman, director of the ASPCA mobile clinic said that pit bulls occupy 43% of shelter space and make up 82% of euthanizations.

The organization is targeting mostly young black and Latino men because it believes these groups are the main owners of the breeds. The ASPCA has created an advertisement, "Show your boy you've got his back. Fix your dog, it's all good." There will be English and Spanish radio and newspaper ads, as well. The goal to get as many of these dogs as possible sterilized to reduce the number of new puppies.

A veterinarian can charge hundreds of dollars to spay or neuter a dog, but the ASPCA say its mobile clinic program is free for people who receive public assistance or live in public housing. For all others, the organization is only asking for a donation of $25. The mobile clinic will be in each of the boroughs. Licensed surgeons and technicians are on board to do the procedures.

Tried and failed in San Francisco.

Prior to San Francisco's mandatory pit bull sterilization law, animal agencies had offered free and low cost spay/neuter clinics to owners of pit bulls. These efforts did not place a significant dent in the over population of unwanted pit bulls, new puppies or high bite count. What made a difference in both areas is the combination of these clinics and a $500 fine for failure to sterilize one's pit bull.

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10 comments:

In fact, it seems like there's a lot of breed specific stuff going on. I thought anything breed specific was "bad." But when it benefits pit bulls through free training classes or free fixing, the double standard is ignored by advocates.

And the target ownership is Black and Hispanic? I guess that’s because other races don’t over-breed and add more dangerous pit bulls to the mix, eh?

-- The Peninsula Humane Society and SPCA, (650) 340-7022, has recently started offering free neutering and spaying for pit bulls and pit bull mixes to San Mateo County residents. In addition, it will pay these owners $10 for having their dogs fixed.

-- The East Bay SPCA, (877) 474-8349, has been offering free neutering and spaying for pit bulls and pit bull mixes to Alameda and Contra Costa county residents since 2004.

-- The Humane Society of Sonoma County, (707) 284-1198, has just started a program offering free neutering and spaying for pit bulls and pit bull mixes to area residents.

-- The San Francisco SPCA, (415) 554-3084, occasionally offers free spaying and neutering for pit bulls and pit bull mixes and is trying to raise money to offer it free all the time.

The ASPCA is actively subsidizing irresponsible ownership instead of discouraging it. Meanwhile, the taxpayer and future victims get screwed!

Jersey | 10/23/2008 6:45 AM | FlagJust another indication that the people attracted to these dogs are irresponsible. Most people pay to have their dogs fixed, they figure it in to the price of a puppy. If pet overpopulation is an issue for all breeds, then free services that reduce overpopultion should be available to all pet owners. There are far more cats than pit bulls in shelters, yet they don't offer to fix cats for free. (Maybe that's because cats don't generate as many calls to animal control or trips to the hospital.) So just by offering this type of program we are being told that pit bull owners are less responsible than the general pet owner, and pit bulls take up so many more resources that they are willing to spend money to save money/end massive killing. And yet pit bull advocates are unhappy with mandatory nueter/spay laws and claim they don't work, even when presented with information about San Francisco. Pit bull owners often complain of breedism. Too bad they don't realize breedism is when one kind of dog gets special treatment and allowances above all others.

mrs.Poodle | 10/23/2008 7:59 AM | FlagSpaying can be a help reducing stray animals but besides making dogs a little less agressive I can't see how spaying pets can reduce the pitbull problem.

Anonymous | 10/23/2008 11:26 AM | FlagThe MANDATORY pit bull sterilation law in San Francisco has worked like a charm!